Mental illness is prevalent inAmericaand it touches us all, with one in four people diagnosed with a mental disorder of some kind each year (U.S. Surgeon General).According to the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH), “Mental illnesses are very common; in fact, they are more common than cancer, diabetes or heart disease.”

Kansas City’s Jewish community is not immune. In recent years, our community has suffered loss from the impact of mental illness. Now, in response to that suffering, steps are being taken to address the stigma of mental illness and educate the community about its impact and the resources that are available to help.